Doreen S. Martin

Doreen Martin is a litigator with extensive experience representing private and public entities, as well as nonprofit and educational institutions in internal investigations, government investigations, and related litigation in state and federal courts. A key focus of her practice is conducting sexual harassment and workplace misconduct investigations on behalf of educational institutions and corporate entities. Doreen also regularly defends employers in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases in state and federal courts. Doreen is a former state prosecutor with first-chair trial experience and appellate experience, and is a trained Title IX investigator.

Doreen has conducted internal investigations for educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private entities, acting on behalf of general counsel, management, audit committees, and boards of directors, stemming from allegations of workplace misconduct, Title VI and Title IX complaints, financial fraud, and Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) violations, among others. She has experience representing public companies and individuals in civil and criminal government enforcement actions, including actions brought by the United States Attorney's Office and the New York Attorney General's Office.

Doreen regularly conducts investigations for K-12 and higher education schools related to allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, bullying, and sexual misconduct. She represents schools in Title IX complaints before the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. She often represents clients in state and federal state courts in follow-on litigation related to educational institutions’ handling of inappropriate conduct allegations.

She has developed and revised policies and procedures in compliance with federal and state laws, including Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Clery Act, and Article 129-B of the New York Education Law. She develops bespoke training programs for clients focused on conducting effective investigations and maintaining a respectful workplace. She also assists with a coordinated PR response and internal communications.

Doreen is the hiring partner in Venable’s New York office. She also serves on the firm’s Pro Bono and Diversity Committees.

Related Industries

Experience

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Representative Matters

Representing a law school in New York in an Article 78 proceeding brought in New York State Supreme Court in connection with the school’s decision to suspend a student after Title IX investigators determined that student violated the school's sexual misconduct policy

Conducted an internal investigation for a university in Baltimore, Maryland in connection with allegations that a dean of the university created a hostile work environment for employees

Conducted an internal investigation for a nonprofit organization in connection with allegations that a trustee of the organization sexually harassed an employee

Conducted an internal investigation for a nonprofit organization in connection with allegations that a chapter president violated the FCPA by making payments to a foreign government official

Represented private school (K-12) in an Article 78 proceeding brought in New York State Supreme Court in connection with school’s decision to suspend a student for a violation of the school’s code of conduct

Conducted an investigation for a Washington, DC charter school in connection with the DC Charter School Board’s decision to close school’s boarding program after a student committed suicide on campus

Conducted internal investigation for multinational advertising and public relations company regarding allegations that a director engaged in racist, sexist, and inappropriate conduct in violation of the company’s code of conduct

Drafted a sexual misconduct policy for a charter school in Washington, DC and provided training to faculty and staff on Title IX

Conducted an internal investigation for an international nonprofit organization related to a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into possible FCPA violations

Conducted an investigation for a liberal arts college in Virginia involving six separate student complaints alleging numerous Title VI and Title IX violations; recommended revisions to existing Title IX, and anti-discrimination and harassment policies and procedures, in compliance with federal and state laws

Conducted an investigation for a liberal arts college in New York regarding allegations that a faculty member was sexually assaulted by another faculty member at an off-campus conference

Represented a monoline insurer in litigation concerning representations and warranties that were made regarding the issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities

Conducted an internal investigation for a mobile technology company regarding whistle-blower allegations that business unit salesmen were negotiating inappropriate side deals and receiving kickbacks from certain telecommunications carriers

Represented an electrical supply company in a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation involving structuring and money laundering offenses

Advised a law school in New York regarding allegations that a student was sexually assaulted by another student on campus

Represented a national restaurant chain in a New York attorney general investigation involving violations of various consumer protection statutes

Advised an educational institution regarding allegations that the director of the school's residency program harassed and intimidated students

Represented an educational institution in a discrimination claim based on race and national origin in violation of the New York State Human Rights Law

Drafted a sexual misconduct policy, and revised student, faculty, and employee handbooks for a law school in New York

Represented a freight forwarding company in an action brought by DOJ for export control violations

Defended a doctor in a criminal action brought by DOJ involving Medicare/Medicaid fraud

Conducted an internal investigation for a national weekly magazine publisher regarding whistle-blower allegations of fraud and embezzlement

Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in a civil investigation concerning allegations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) violations, and conduct involving the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)

Advised and defended a nonprofit credit counseling company in a class action lawsuit alleging violations of various consumer protection statutes

Defended former directors and officers of an international manufacturing company involving civil RICO and fraud claims

Advised and defended an employee of an airline repair company in a DOJ investigation involving Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations

Advised and defended two debt settlement companies in actions brought by the New York Attorney General’s Office for violations of consumer protection statutes

Conducted an internal investigation for a financial services company related to federal and state investigations into student loan industry payment practices

Defended a pharmaceutical company and secured a dismissal of a “failure to warn” claim against the client

Insights

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Recent Thought Leadership

October 10, 2018

New York Nonprofits: The Deadline for Compliance with the New Sexual Harassment Requirements Has Arrived